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Youth overcomes denial to become a HIV/AIDS advocate

Thirty year-old Roseline Tshuma is a resident of
ward five in Epworth District - situated South-East of Harare, approximately
18kms away. She is a single parent to a seven year-old daughter who attends grade
one at Kubatana Primary school. Roseline is 1.6 meters tall, dark complexioned
and maintains natural short hair and vends vegetables for a living. Behind all
these lie a radiant smile, an infectious laugh and big black eyes that welcome one
to her rather feather-soft persona. Roseline is a direct beneficiary of
capacity building programs by Youth Agenda Trust (YAT). YAT is a partner to
ActionAid International Zimbabwe (AAIZ).

In September 2008, Roselyn’s life made a dramatic
change for the worst - so it would seem. But looking at the past, the turn of
events was for a bigger cause. It all started following her increasingly
deteriorating health and endless calls by her sister Jacqueline Tshuma for her
to get a full medical check. This was because she was always in and out of
hospitals and taking all kinds of prescribed drugs to cure an array of ailments.
She reluctantly visited Shurugwi Hospital, in Shurugwi District in the midlands
Province. On this day, she was tested for all other ailments but before
medication was prescribed, the doctor advised her to take a HIV/AIDS test.
Knowing that she could not possibly have the virus; with confidence, she
agreed. The doctor went ahead to counsel her before the test as is the
procedure. After approximately eight minutes of waiting, she was informed that
she had tested positive to the HIV/AIDS virus. It seemed like a whole day of
pin-drop silence, her world stopped! “I can never forget that moment. I was
informed that I have the virus. That moment is etched in my mind. My whole body
felt numb, i was distraught and i felt lost” she says amidst an empty look.

According to the UNAIDS report of 2014,
approximately 1.6 million people are living with the HIV/AIDS virus in Zimbabwe
with women aged 15 years and over forming more than half of the total number currently
at approximately 830,000. In September 2008, Roseline’s status confirmation
added to these statistics and is now reflective of the situation of many other
youth in Epworth and across the country.

Between September 2008 and March 2013, Roseline was
in total denial and constantly on the run from the thought that she was positive.
She stopped managing her business. She could barely take care of herself nor
her daughter. But her sister never gave up hope on her. Jacqueline became her
support pillar. In May 2013, Roseline joined YAT as a volunteer, merely to keep
busy. Being a female who showed drive and ambition, within 4 months she was
accorded opportunities to undergo a series of trainings, workshops and seminars
on HIV/AIDS care, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Advocacy and
Campaigns and Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) organized by YAT. Through
these trainings, she acquired knowledge, confidence as well as skills on psycho-social
support and young people’s rights.

With a bright sparkle in her eyes, she narrates, “Though
I was not cured of the virus, I felt alive again. Upon
joining YAT, life became a bit bearable and meaningful. I learnt a lot about
how to take care of myself. At times, the other members would escort me to pick
up my drugs from Mvuma Hospital located, 50Kms from my home. Now I have no fear
or shame of living with the disease. I appreciate that I am not alone and that
I it’s my right to freely live and talk about it. That’s why I am free to talk
to you right now”.

Following the training and guidance offered by YAT,
she opted to pick herself up to champion for other youth making poor life decisions
like she did and suffering life-long consequences because of those decisions by
becoming a human rights advocate for popular access to information and
awareness for informed decision making. Roseline also got to revive her
business.

In
her neighborhood, there is a high number of positives who are mainly youth. She
appreciates that HIV/AIDS has a major negative impact on development as such
she takes pride in mobilizing the youth to get tested and to live responsible
lives. She believes that through targeted engagement with the youth using the
power of advocacy & community mobilization to reach those affected directly
and indirectly, there will be significant awareness and informed decision
making leading to reduction of new cases and increase in those who are opening
up about their status.

“There is need to champion for significant
changes in attitude to bring about greater individual responsibility,
psycho-social support & understanding of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS” she asserts.

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